Amlin Challenge Cup: Newport Gwent Dragons roar to victory over Bordeaux-Begles
Newport Gwent Dragons boosted their bid to reach the Amlin Challenge Cup knockout stages by beating Bordeaux-Begles.
Last Updated: 06/12/13 11:07pm
The Welsh region took control of the contest thanks to three first-half tries from Patrick Leach, Matthew Pewtner and Hallam Amos.
Toby Faletau and Ashley Smith added further scores after the break to secure the bonus point and sent the Dragons took of Pool Two ahead of the return match in France next Thursday.
The home side surged into a 12-0 lead after nine minutes after tries to Leech and Pewtner, with fly-half Jason Tovey converting only the latter.
Manu Saubusse made up for an earlier miss to get the French side on the scoreboard after 21 minutes but the Dragons' third try came on the half-hour to give them control.
Newly-capped Wales international Amos ran onto a short pass from scrum-half Wayne Evans and burst through to touch down before Tovey converted.
Jefferson Poirot responded with Bordeaux's first try but Tovey sent the Dragons into the break 22-10 ahead.
Tovey, who kicked over 15 points in total, added another penalty shortly after the interval.
Bonus point
Bordeaux were awarded a penalty try on 55 minutes but moments later Faletau powered over for a try to seal the bonus point.
Amos then helped Smith go over seven minutes from the end for breathing space that might prove crucial at the end of the group phase after replacement Jean-Baptiste Lamotte touched down late.
The visitors were therefore in sight of a losing bonus-point but the Dragons held out as they won for just the fifth time in their past 13 matches in this competition.
